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APA Document Format

Abstract

An Abstract is a “brief, comprehensive summary of the contents of an article” (APA, 2010, p. 25). The Abstract must be brief (usually 250 words or fewer), but include all main points of the paper. Its organization generally mirrors the organization of the paper (to check, compare the Abstract to the paper headings).

Why do writers use it?

Based on the Abstract, readers often decide whether or not to read the entire paper.

Conventions:

The Abstract is page 2, on a separate page, after the title page and before the paper.

Title the page Abstract in uppercase and lowercase letters, centered, at the top of the page (below the running head and page number). The Abstract should appear in the same font as the paper (e.g., Times New Roman, size 12), not bolded or italicized.

Type the abstract in a single paragraph (double-spaced).

Do not indent the paragraph.

Do not cite referencesin the Abstract, with one exception: if your study continues or replicates previous research, note this in the Abstract, and cite the author’s last name and the year of the original report.

Headings

Headings are used to signal the organization and structure of the paper. The appearance of the heading changes depending on the number of structural levels within the paper. Common headings include Methods, Results, and Discussion to indicate different sections of the paper.

Observe the following conventions:

Use the same heading level for sections of the same importance (Example: Methods, Results, and Discussion will be the same level of headings)

Begin a new level only if it will have two or more headings (do not use a level of headers under a section if there will only be one)

Do not use a heading for the introduction(unless the instructor requests this)

Do not label headings with numbers or letters

Maintain the same font sizeused in the paper

Maintain double-spacingbefore and after Level 1 and 2 headings; double-spacing does not apply with Level 3, 4, and 5 headings (for these levels, the text continues on the same line as the heading)

In-Text Citations

All information taken from sources MUST be cited in your paper, whether you summarize, paraphrase, or quote the information. In-text citations refer readers to the References page and should be used appropriately to avoid plagiarism.

Types of In-Text Citations:

Summary – Condensing an author’s information and stating it in your own words. The citation includes author’s last name and yearExample: (Smith, 2009)

Paraphrase – Rephrasing an author’s idea in your own words. The citation includes author’s last name and yearExample: (Jones, 2011)

Direct quotation – Using an author’s exact words (you MUST use quotation marks or block quote format). The citation includes author’s last name, year, AND page number. Direct quotations should be used infrequently, in situations where you cannot easily convey the information in your own wordsExample: (Jones, 2011, p. 137)

Options for Using In-Text Citations:

Parenthetical Citation – Include reference information at the end of a sentence, inside parentheses:Example: The study’s findings support the importance of trust when working with patients with sensory deficits (Cappell, 2009).

Attributive Tag – Provide the author’s last name and the date of publication within the sentence; two methods may be used: Example: Cappell’s (2009) findings support the importance of trust when working with patients with sensory deficits. Note: The author’s last name is followed by the year – keep citation information together Example with quotation: Cappell’s (2009) findings state that “trust develops as nurses provide quality care” (p. 32). Note: The author’s name and year are found together; the page number follows the direct quotation

Special Situations:

Two or more works in the same citation; used when combining multiple studies with the same findings; arrange citations in alphabetical order Example: (Johnson, 2000; Jones, 2004;Williams, 1999)

More than one author with the same last name published in the same year; the References page would also include authors’ first initialsExample: (Smith, A., 2009); later in paper: (Smith, E., 2009)

Secondary source: one author cites another author within his/her work. In the example below, the writer has used Smith’s work; Smith cited Johnson as a source of information. Include Johnson and date in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence, as shown below. Only Smith will be cited on the References page. Example: Smith’s study indicates that chemotherapy is an effective treatment method for leukemic cancers (as cited in Johnson, 2009).

Things to Remember:

In any in-text citation, the author’s last name and the year published should be included; the format will differ depending on the number of authors:

One to five authors: include all last names in the FIRST citation Example: (Jones, Smith, Swanson, Fredrick, & Decker, 2008) Note: Use & rather than the word and

One or two authors: state all authors’ names throughout the entire document

Three to five authors: use et al. for subsequent citations Example: (Jones et al., 2008)

Six or more authors: include ONLY the first author’s last name followed by et al. in all citations Example: (Thompson et al., 2009)

Include page numbers only if quoted directly

If no author, use identifiers:

Organization: Use organization’s name as author. Example: (Centers for Disease Control, 2009).

Title: Use first key word. If title is “Universal Lessons Learned by a Gastroenterologist,” cite (“Universal,” 2009).